For Filipino-Canadian artist and designer Caitlin Coo, clothing is more than fabric and thread. For her, it’s transformation, resistance, and self-discovery. Through her fashion brand Kaidain Ivy, Coo said she has been stitching together identity as she discovered her place in the world. Through her experience she weaves in culture and community, one sparkling garment at a time.
“I like to make very sparkly, whimsical outfits,” said Coo as she juggles preparations for Pride month as well as her upcoming runway show at The Mills Halifax Fashion Week on Aug. 14. “I work with local artists and I love to bring representation for those who are mostly not represented.”
“I’m a Filipino Canadian, born in Canada and adopted into a white family,” said Coo. “I grew up in a neighbourhood where no one looked like me, and it’s been a journey to discover my Filipino heritage. It wasn’t about belonging — it was about figuring out how I fit into a world that didn’t reflect me. Through that process, I’ve found ways to express my identity in my designs. It’s an artistic journey.”
Coo began sewing at just three years old. By middle school, she was already designing her own clothing. Her Grade 8 graduation dress was designed by Coo herself. This marked an early milestone in what would become a flourishing artistic career.
Coo’s story is one of resilience. She speaks candidly about the rise in anti-Asian racism she has experienced, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I got called Chinese. I got spit on,” she said. “People did not actually care where I am from. I have had people tell me to go back to where I came from… and I ask them, Ontario?”
For Coo, her response to hate is art.
“Kaidain Ivy started when I moved to Halifax,” she said. “The world was being ugly to me, and I wanted to make it a beautiful place.”
What began as a creative outlet soon became a full-fledged brand known for its bold, fantastical designs and deep cultural storytelling. Her first piece, a swirling floral design, is now being reworked for the runway this summer, a nod to transformation, both personal and professional.
Coo has found a strong creative ally in Halifax’s drag and queer community, whose members, she said, are fearlessly carving out space for themselves.
“They use drag as a form of self-expression,” she said. “Over time, I started collaborating with them. I feel honoured to bring their visions to life.”
For Coo, fashion is as much about building community as it is about style. She looks up to local models like Cassidy Megan, whom she met at a runway show during Megan’s teenage years, and David Michaels, whom she describes as “an amazing energy to be around,” as key collaborators.
“I’ve been modelling for Kaiden Ivy since 2018,” said Michaels. “Coo changed my life when she chose me.…To wear her pieces is like becoming a piece of art that is magnificently magical.”
Representation is an important part of Coo’s work that Michaels said he admires. “It’s about challenging the traditional beauty standards and norms that have long excluded or marginalized so many,” he said.
Coo’s collection does that, and for Halifax’s queer community it is an extension of their journey behind the scenes. Coo said she is grateful to be a part of telling that story and her clothes are the narrative.
“When people love being in the clothes you make, it shows on the runway,” she said.
Currently, Coo is preparing more than a dozen looks for The Mills Halifax Fashion Week. Her pieces are expected to reflect both her signature whimsy and her evolving reflections on identity, motherhood and heritage.
“As a mother now, I want to show my daughter beauty, and help her explore herself in a safe and creative space,” she said.
For Coo, the runway is just one step in a larger journey, one of growth, self-expression and amplifying Filipino-Canadian voices in fashion.
“There’s always going to be different things to explore and express,” she said. “It’s an artistic journey… and I’m still on it.”
This article appears in Jun 1-30, 2025.